Please read through these carefully and study the reference Scriptures and determine in your own heart and mind if you can accept these Biblical teachings wholeheartedly.
1. ONLY ONE TRUE GOD God has revealed Himself as the Creator and redeemer of mankind. He is infinitely perfect and eternally manifested as a triune being, namely, GOD the Father, GOD the Son and GOD the Holy Spirit. He has revealed His personal name as YAHWEH and there is no other God besides Him. GOD is Love and He is light and in Him is no darkness at all. (Genesis 1:1, Isaiah 43:11, Colossians 1:15-20, 1John 5:5-13, Exodus 3:13-15, Isaiah 45:5-7, 1John 4:8, 1John 1:5)
2. HOLY SCRIPTURES ARE INSPIRED BY YAHWEH AND ARE THE SOVEREIGN TRUTH The Old and New Testament are the inspired living Word of GOD whereby we find the final divine authority and Truth for all spiritual faith and practice. There is no other Scripture or book on the entire planet that is equal to or greater than the Holy Bible. The Word of GOD in the Holy Bible is eternal and will never become outdated or pass away. (2 Timothy 3:15-16, Psalm 119:160, John 17:17, Psalm 119:89, Isiah 40:8, Luke 21:23)
3. DIETY OF JESUS CHRIST The Lord Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of GOD who shares in the diety of GOD Almighty. He is also truly a man who was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born to Mary. He died on the cross as a sacrifice for all human sin and arose from the dead, ascended into heaven and is now at the right hand of the Father as our High priest and advocate. In the language of His own country Jesus was known as Yahoshua or in the Hebrew language it is YESHUA. (Matthew 1:18-25, Mark 16:5-7, Luke 23:33, John 1:1-5, Acts 2:33, Hebrews 3:1, 1John 2:1)
4. ORIGINAL FALL AND SIN OF MANKIND Man was created in the image of GOD but fell into sin and is therefore spiritually dead and lost. Only through the shed blood of Jesus Christ and by His ressurection can we have grounds for justification and salvation. (Genesis 1-3, Romans 5:12-14, Colossians 1:14, Revelations 1:5, Revelations 12:11)
5. THE NEW BIRTH
a. BEING BORN AGAIN You must be born from above to see the Kingdom of heaven. Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of GOD and will not perish but have everlasting life. If you confess that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that GOD raised Him from the dead you will be saved. Whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. (John 3:3, 1John 5:1, John 3:16, Romans 10:9,13, Joel 2:32)
b. SALVATION AND REDEMPTION BY FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST Humanities salvation and redemption (a free gift of grace from GOD) can only be obtained by exercising faith, not works, in the person and finished redemptive work of the Lord Jesus Christ. Only through the Lord Jesus Himself and the power of His name can our spirits be regenerated and given new life. And through His blood we are cleansed from all sin. (Ephesians 2:8-10, Romans 5:1-2, 1John 5:11-13, Acts 4:10-12, 1John 1:7 )
c. THE NEW MAN IN CHRIST If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature (creation) in the inward man, old things have passed away and all things become new. We are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus. We are partakers of His Divine nature and have escaped the corruption that is in the world. (2 Corinthians 5:17, Ephesians 2:10, 2Peter 1:4)
6. BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT It was prohesied by both Joel and Isaiah that GOD would pour out His Spirit on a future generation. Also John the baptist prophesied that Jesus would baptize believers with the Holy Spirit and fire. GOD does not want us to be ignorant concerning the work and especially the gifts of the Holy Spirit. If we ask Him, GOD will give us the Holy Spirit. The ministry and baptism of the Holy Spirit is to glorify Jesus Christ and to indwell, guide and empower believers for life and service. This baptism brings the gifts and enablements of the Holy Spirit into action for ministry in and through the Body of Christ. This spiritual baptism is distinct from and subsequent to the New Birth and is often evidenced by the initial sign of speaking with other tounges as the Spirit of GOD gives the utterance. (Isaiah 44:3, Joel 2:28-29, Matthew 3:11, Mark 1:8, 1Corinthians 12:1, Luke 11:13, Acts 1:5, Acts 2:1-4)
7. DIVINE HEALING AND PROSPERITY The atoning work of Jesus Christ provides not only salvation and eternal life but also divine healing, prosperity, protection and all of the promises in the Holy Bible. GOD promises all of His blessings especially health and abundant provision to those who keep His commandments and walk righteously before Him. (Isaiah 53:4-5, Matthew 8:16-17, Dueteronomy 28:1-13, Joshua 1:8, Psalm 1:8, Psalm 23, Psalm 91, Isaiah 48:17, Psalm 34:8-10, Psalm 103:1-5, John 14:-12-15, 3John 2, 2Corinthians 8:9)
8. LOVE, RIGHTEOUSNESS AND HOLINESS IS THE STANDARD OF LIVING FOR GOD'S PEOPLE Through the ten commandments given by GOD to Moses and the summery of the commandments given by Jesus we are called to do what is right and good all of the time. We are challenged to walk in the Spirit, in Love and in the Light and even to show kindness and love to our enemies. The fruits of the Spirit such as love, joy and peace are inherent qualities of everyone who is led by the Spirit.(Exodus 20:1-17, Deuteronomy 5:6-22, Matthew 22:36-40, John 14:15, 1John 1:7, 1John 2:3-5, Matthew 19:16-19, Matthew 5:44, Luke 6:27-35, Galatians 5:22, Colossians 3:12-17)
9. THE TRUE CHURCH IS THE BODY OF CHRIST
a. THE UNIVERSAL CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST The true church is the composition of all those who have been born of the Spirit and confess Jesus as Lord and Saviour. Through the new birth and the baptism of the Holy Spirit believers are united together as one body, which is The Body of Christ. Jesus Christ is Lord and head of the Church. (Galatians 3:26-28, Colossians 3:10-11, 1Corinthians 12:12-14, 27, Ephesians 1:22-23, Ephesians 4:14-15, Colossians 1:15-20)
b. THE TRUE CHURCH IS A COMMUNITY OF BELIEVERS WHO ARE ALL EQUALS AND WHO SHARE THE FRUITS AND GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT FREELY Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty and there must also be a strong Spirit of unity. The Holy Spirit must be given full freedom to operate in and through the entire community and none of the gifts should be despised or suppressed. We are all One in Christ and in His sight we are all equals in His body. Everyone should come together prepared with a song, a prayer or a Scripture. (2Corinthians 3:17, Ephesians 4:1-6, 13-16, 1Peter 3:8-9, Psalm 133:1, 1Corinthians 1:4-10, 1Corinthians 12:4-11, 31, 1Corinthians 14:1-5, 39-40, Colossians 3:12-17, Galatians 3:28, John 17:11, 21-23, Romans 12:3-8, 1 Corinthians 14:26,)
c. THE CHURCH HAS A PERFECT DESIGN AND ORDER WHERE JESUS ALONE IS THE DIRECT SPIRITUAL AUTHORITY OVER EVERY BELIEVER. GOD'S gift is that some will be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers and their purpose is to knit GOD'S holy people together for the work of service to build up the Body of Christ until we all reach unity in faith and knowledge of the Son of God. There are divinely appointed elders and leaders within the church body who prefer others over themselves and are not self promoting and who minister for love and not for money. No pastor or leader can come between you and GOD . Ephesians 4:11
We feel that these Biblical Doctrines represent essential beliefs for Spirit filled Christian believers. (There may be a couple of other essential beliefs from Scripture that we have not yet included so please let us know what you feel are primary doctrines for New Testament Christians.) There are also many other secondary doctrines and teachings which are beneficial for Christians, yet do not affect your salvation and some of these will be included on a future page.
Please send us your comments especially if you think that we may have missed an essential doctrine or teaching for New Testament Spirit filled believers. email: ecclesiachristos@yahoo.com
